A Midwestern couple born and raised, Lauren and Carter Arey share their beautiful Columbia, Missouri home with their adorable furry loved ones, dogs Zoey and Emma and cats Phil and Lily. When decorating their home, comfort and coziness were at the top of their priorities; however, that doesn’t mean their space lacks in style. As a graphic designer and painter, Lauren used her artist’s eye for design by beautifully pairing mid-century modern furnishings, eclectic finds and plenty of greenery.

Illustrated in photos taken by friend Laura Rowe, it’s apparent that they have truly turned their house into a home: warm, inviting, and full of love…

“Our house was built in 1964 – my favorite era for home design”, says Lauren. “They had such unique and classic tastes then! We have done something to almost every square inch of this space; paint in all rooms, finished the basement living area, added built-ins, energy efficiency upgrades, landscaping, exterior paint and we recently renovated the kitchen! We’re getting close to the end of the big items; a couple of small bathroom makeovers left. Design seems to evolve for me, so I’m sure we’ll have to switch some style things up eventually.”

We really wanted a space where we would feel cozy and comfortable. This our place to relax and wind down. We wanted a space that was conducive to that, while also highlighting the era and character that came with the house.

Study them! Through trial, error and research, I have found plants that will thrive in the light and space that I have, and will therefore be low maintenance for me. It doesn’t end after choosing them though. You have to pay attention to them and how they change and make adjustments according to what they need. I google a lot!

I think being an artist has really allowed me to use my home as another creative outlet; a place to use unique finishes, display artwork and try new things. I feel as though through my experiences in art, I have “permission” to get a little wild with my decor.

How have you designed your studio space to inspire you and promote creativity?

This is my first personal studio. I really focused on making sure it would be functional for multiple types of projects. The large work station is amazing! I can really speed out. The hanging wall cabinets hold all of my art supplies. All of which are from IKEA. After that’s taken care of, I really wanted a light and bring space with some pops of color to keep my senses working. I fall back on mid-century color palettes for those pops.

I’m a graphic designer by trade, but my other passion is painting. I love all types, but acrylic is my first choice. I’ve been in love with impressionism since I could pronounce it, so I lean towards that style. I just love to create.

I feel my whole home has become my Modern Sanctuary; my studio is my creative space, our living spaces are a sanctuary for my family, our kitchen is a place to whip up some comforts. All of these combine to make a place that’s more special to me than any exotic location I could ever go! Lauren

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